Postcard from Vancouver: Stuff Luongo likes

Brian HamiltonTribune reporter

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Team Tribune embarked on a highly classified investigative journalism jag Tuesday, commonly known as attending media access, efforting to untangle the cat's cradle that is Roberto Luongo on the eve of the Chicago Blackhawks' efforts to solve him again in the postseason.

He was, inarguably, one of the premier goalies in the NHL this season and allowed just 2.18 goals per start, with one shutout, against the Hawks. The Hawks also made him cry two postseasons ago and then rattled him into submission last postseason. How Luongo negotiates this mental hurdle likely defines the series.

So after thorough examination and inquisition over the course of no fewer than eight minutes of interviews, consider this exhaustive primer of "Stuff Roberto Luongo Likes" while you watch Game 1 tonight.

1. Not talking about Dustin Byfuglien. He was asked two questions referencing the burly ex-Hawks player on Tuesday. Neither directly asked Luongo how Dustin Byfuglien affected him. And Luongo wanted to assure everyone nonetheless that Dustin Byfuglien didn't affect him.

"I don't know what to tell, you, bud," Luongo said. "I don't think they won the Stanley Cup because of Dustin Byfuglien."

Possible Hawks tactical advantage: Joel Quenneville stands in front of a mirror and says, "Dustin Byfuglien" three times, causing a giant Byfuglien demon to appear in front of the crease and immediately pancake Luongo.

2. Calling people "bud." Team Tribune asked two questions of Luongo on Tuesday and was referred to as "bud" twice in Luongo's answers (as noted in Item #1). On the plus side: Luongo did not use "bro," "pal," or "broheim."

Possible Hawks tactical advantage: Skate past Luongo and, each time, refer to him alternately as "hoss," "hosstetler," or "El Diablo," just because they should totally do that.

3. Not talking on game days. Before the cattle run, er, media entrance into the Canucks' dressing room, the group was informed that Luongo would not be talking after the morning skate on game days -- the first of which begins at 10:30 a.m. PT Wednesday at Rogers Arena.

"I'm a goalie and I want to be focused on stopping the puck on game days," Luongo said. "That's pretty much it. There's nothing to it."

Possible Hawks tactical advantage: Well, none. We'll give Luongo this one. He's accommodating and patient in the room and answers every question thrown with a more than adequate level of thoughtfulness. Nothing he says Wednesday would add anything to what he said the previous two days, and if one less media scrum helps him exorcise the Hawks haunting him in the postseason, why not go silent? Any port in a storm that has returned for a third time.

More from the morning skates in a while back here and from @ChrisKuc and @ChiTribHamilton, with the Hawks taking the ice around 1:30 p.m. CT to warm up for a 9 p.m. CT start.